Jane has acted on large scale commercial disputes in New Zealand and internationally. She is experienced in managing complex, high-value disputes involving court proceedings, mediation and arbitration. She also offers commercially astute advice in order to avoid disputes and to resolve matters at an early stage.

Jane joined MinterEllisonRuddWatts in January 2017 from another major New Zealand law firm. Prior to that, Jane worked in the commercial litigation team at Allen & Overy, London. She also completed a Master of Laws at New York University on a Fulbright Scholarship and Hauser Global Scholarship. In the early part of her career, Jane was a Judge’s Clerk at the New Zealand Court of Appeal and worked as a junior barrister for David Goddard QC. She was the top graduating law student at Victoria University of Wellington. Jane is also a member of the New Zealand Law Society Law Reform Committee.

Professional background

Recent work

Financial services litigation and class actions

Acted for one of the top four audit firms defending a professional negligence claim in relation to the audit engagements carried out for a finance company.

Acted in proceedings against an investment fund which invested client money in Madoff feeder funds.

Acted for a major New Zealand bank in defence of a class action claim regarding account fees and credit fees.

Insurance litigation

Acting for a major insurance broker in relation to claims of negligence, breach of contract and misleading and deceptive conduct under the Fair Trading Act 1986.

FMA/NZX inquiries

Acted for listed companies in relation to continuous disclosure obligations and insider trading.

CCCFA compliance

Advises clients in relation to the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 and Commerce Commission investigations into lending.

Complex contractual disputes

Acted on a claim of breach of an aeroplane supply contract, a mediation regarding breach of a naval ship building contract, warranty breaches under a sale and purchase agreement of a company and software contract disputes.

Injunctive relief

Acted for large corporate entities seeking urgent injunctive relief including acting for a major Russian bank obtaining freezing orders worldwide.